ODESSA - The University of Texas of the Permian Basin has a record-high fall 2014 enrollment of 5,565 students, which represents an 8.6 percent increase in number of students and a 4.4 percent increase in student course hours over fall 2013.

Among the programs with a significant increase in enrollment are petroleum engineering (up 95 percent), and mechanical engineering (up 32 percent).

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science (BAAS) program is up 80 percent.

In the College of Education, the Fast Track to Teaching program, which offers students a convenient transition to teaching, is up 72 percent.

Enrollment for the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is up 236 percent, and for the pre-nursing program enrollment is up 45 percent.

The first school in Texas to offer a $10,000 bachelor’s degree in select majors, UTPB now has been recognized as the second least expensive Texas public, four-year institution for all college expenses, including tuition and fees, according to a College for All Texans’ report.